Top Employers Turn Up To Recruit Young Black Men At Major Jobs Fair
Young Black male graduates over three times more likely to be jobless than White male graduates
Jobcentre Plus joined forces with youth employment programme Moving on Up, last Friday, to host a memorable jobs fair, where leading London employers showcased their quality live vacancies to young Black men – a group who has consistently endured the highest unemployment rate of all young people.
Whitbread, The Met Police and Morgan Sindall Construction were among 13 employers who attended the jobs fair at Newham Altitude Job Centre, which attracted over 40 young Black men.
Speaking just after the event, Simone Casey, who manages Whitbread’s new hotel openings, said:
In a few days, we’ll be contacting seven young men we met at the jobs fair to set up interviews for roles at our new Premier Inn, in Canary Wharf. We’re interested in recruiting young Black men for duty manager roles at Premier Inn, which will be a good opportunity if they’re at college doing business studies and want to work around two days a week to learn the practical side of business.
The other roles we’re offering are not your average McDonald’s or retail roles, but roles with real progression, after starting at entry level in areas of the business such as the reception or restaurant.
Many rewarding opportunities were showcased at the jobs fair, including:
- A fully funded police constable degree apprenticeship, with The Met Police, on an annual salary of £31,686*
- A ten-week paid work experience opportunity, potentially leading to a paid apprenticeship with print and production company Paragon – the employer partner of West Ham United Foundation
- An apprentice bricklayer or an apprentice trainee site manager role with Morgan Sindall Construction
Morgan Sindall Construction received several CVs from young Black men keen to secure one of the apprenticeship roles. Successful applicants will work at Manor Road Quarter, phase 1 project, a forthcoming residential development in Canning Town. The current apprentice trainee site manager – a 22-year-old Black male – will be starting work as a site manager in September and so the company is keen to fill this vacancy quickly.
Monica Paul, a Social Value Manager at Morgan Sindall Construction, enthused: “I met some really fantastic candidates at the jobs fair and as a local employer, we’re keen to support as many young Black men as possible into apprenticeships and jobs.”
Newham-based West Ham United Foundation, Elba and A New Direction attended the jobs fair and signed up new candidates for Moving on Up, which aims to improve employment outcomes for London’s young Black men aged 16 to 24. Elba and the other organisations deliver Moving on Up in partnership with Action for Race Equality (ARE).
Jeremy Crook OBE, Chief Executive of ARE said:
This much-needed event gave employers an opportunity to introduce young Black men to quality London Living Wage opportunities. We look forward to finding out the impact this event has in the weeks and months to come.
Catherine Pearce, Employer Adviser Manager at Newham’s Jobcentre Plus, which is run by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), said:
The jobs fair went really well. It was great getting employers together. It gave job seekers an insight into opportunities and a chance to apply for the opportunities, which they wouldn’t have known about if they hadn’t attended an event like this jobs fair.
East Ham MP Sir Stephen Timms, visited the jobs fair to meet candidates and speak to staff at Jobcentre Plus. During his visit, he commented:
I would like young Black men to be confident about being able to earn a good living to support themselves and their families in the future. The Moving on Up programme can make a big contribution to this goal.
For details on how to access opportunities provided by employers who attended the jobs fair please visit ARE/Moving on Up from August 1st.
Written by: Adeline Iziren
